Eighteen states and the District of
Columbia have passed medical marijuana bills. One-third of Americans now live
in a state where medical marijuana is legal. New York has proposed a bill that
would create a state-regulated medical marijuana program allowing seriously ill
patients to access medical marijuana under the supervision of a healthcare
practitioner. Despite the expansion of medical marijuana programs across the
country and a growing base of scientific evidence about the efficacy of medical
marijuana in treating certain medical conditions, information for mental health
and treatment providers in New York about medical marijuana is limited. This
program is designed to provide a forum for mental health and treat­ment
professionals to learn about and discuss medical marijuana as well as the bill
that is pending in the New York State Legislature.